Wire connector



Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES aerENT OFFICE WIRE CONNECTOR Herman L. Gordon, Silver Spring, Md.

Application June 30, 1947, Serial No. 757,999

25 Claims.

This invention relates to terminal lugs for wire ends, and more particularly to terminal lugs of the solderless type.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved terminal lug which is very simple in structure, easy to secure to a wire end, and which provides a positive electrical connection to said wire end.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved solderless terminal for wire ends which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate and rugged in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved wire terminal of the solderless type which may be quickly applied to the end of a wire and which requires no special crimping tool to effect the desired connection of the terminal to the wire.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved blank for forming a solderless wire terminal, said blank being inexpensive to produce and requiring only a small amount of material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved solderless terminal lug which is adapted to be readily secured to a wire end by the use of ordinary manual pressure and which requires no tools for the fastening thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a terminal lug constructed according to the present invention,

showing a wire end secured thereto.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through the terminal lug on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of the terminal lug elements immediately prior to the locking operation for securing the wire end thereto.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank employed to form the terminal lug of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of the terminal lug of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through the terminal lug of Figure 5 on the line 6--6 thereof.

Figure '7 is a plan view of a blank employed to form the terminal lug of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the for ward end portion of a further modified form of the terminal lug of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through the terminal lug structure of Figure 8 on the line 99 thereof.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank employed to form the terminal lug of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a plan View similar to Figure 8 but illustrating a still further modified form of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the terminal lug structure of Figure 11 on the line I2-l2 thereof.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a blank employed to form the terminal lug of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a still further form of the present invention.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the blank employed to form the terminal lug of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification of a portion of the blank of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective View of a wire gripping tongue resulting from the modification shown in Figure 16.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, ll designates generally a terminal lug constructed in accordance with the present invention, said terminal lug being formed from a single fiat blank such as shown in Figure 4 at I2. The blank I2, which is formed preferably from resilient strip material, comprises a generally annular head portion 13 and a straight body portion M, terminating in a straight tab [5 substantially reduced in width as compared with the width of body portion [4. Body portion I4 is formed with an aperture 16 and is slit at I! to define a tongue 18.. Midway between the bending line I9 of said tongue and aperture IE is formed another aperture 20. Spaced the same distance as the bending line 2| of tab I 5 from aperture 29 but on the opposite side thereof, body portion [4 is formed with a rectangular slot 22, said slot being located adjacent the annular head portion l3 at the end of said body portion.

In preparing the terminal lug for use, tongue 18 is bent on line I9 so that it extends at right angles to body portion [4. End tab I5 is bent on line 2! to a right angular position in the same manner and the top portion of tab I5 is bent around line 23 to define a hook 24. The body portion I4 is then bent on a transverse .minal lug of Figure .3. .be .inserted through opening 28' in the same .manner .asin the,previously described embodimentaof ,the invention and locked to the terminal'lug by squeezing the upper and lower. arms line 25 extending through the center of aperture 2i! until the terminal lug assumes the configuration shown in Figure 3. The terminal lug is now ready for use.

In connecting the terminal lug to a wire end, the wire end, shown at 26, is thrust through the aperture 29 at the bend 25 and moved inwardly until it abuts the upstanding end tab 55. In this position, the intermediate portion or" the wire end underlies the bottom edge of the "depending tongue l5 and is located between said bottom edge and the adjacent aperture it. Pressure is then exerted on the top and bottom arms of the bent body portion of the terminal lug to squeeze said arms together toward substantially parallel positions, as shown'in Figure 2. The squeezing pressure thus applied causes tongue is to distort the intermediate portion of the wire end downwardlyinto-aperture l6 and causes hook 2:; to move upwardly through slot..22 and catch onthe .topsurface of the :upper arm of the terminal .lug body ,por- .tion, thereby locking. the .arms thereof in substantiallyparallel positions with the wire end +28-secured firmly therebetween-by the engagement of thedepending tongue 1.8 with the downwardly crimpedbendshown at .27, inthe wire aendifi, saidbendbeing jammed into theopening it. Ihe .wire endlt is .thus tightlysecured to the terminal lug and isthereby.mechanically .andelectrically bonded thereto.

-In-.Figu-res 5,6 and '7 amodified vform of .ter-

. minal-lug according .to this invention is disoftsaid body portion being formed-with .a shallow notch .35. Body portion lid is formed -.with the .-aperture 2ii,.-is slitiat tl" to defineqa tongue 18 and is formed with anaperture l6 spaced the same distance away from aperture as the ..bend line id of tongue l8, .similarlyto the body portion of .the blank shown .in Figure 4.

Body:-portion as is further slit-at .36 to'define a .tabefi-l, the bend line- .38-of said tabbeingsub- .stantially the same distance fromaperture it) as the notchfie in-the endof theblank.

=.In preparingthe terminal lug .Jtor .use, tongue -l8 is benton line te' so'that'it extends .atright angles .to body portion '35.

Tab .31 is bent on line "iidto-aright angularposition in'the .mannenrand.thetopportion-of tab 31 is bent waround linelit to defineiaihookdii. 'Thebody .vportion. 3. l-is.then benton a transverse line :extending through the center .of aperture 28' -.until .theLterminalTlug assumes .a configuration corresponding to theangledposition of the ter- "The .wire end may now together until the hook fill catches on'the .top

surface of the upper arm of thebentbody portion as shown in Figured. .The tab :3? slidably fits into the notch itbto'thereby'prevent skewingof the top arm of said bent body portion ,with .respect to the. bottom arm thereof during the squeezing operation. Theitongue lB'crimps the .wire end downwardly into'the opening it in the samemanner as described ,in 'connectionwith the previous embodiment of the invention.

' blank.

Ill

portion In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the blank is generally similar to that of Figure 7 except that the blank is slit at Q5, G5, the slits extending to the aperture 38 in the annular head portion 33 of the A tongue 67 is thus defined which is bent to a right angled position on the line 48 and is further bent around the line 49 to define a hook 5d. Hooked tongue 59 cooperates with the end notch 35 to lock the terminal lug in Wire clamping position in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 5, 6 and 7.

.Inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and 13 the blank is generally similar to that of Figure 4 except that the locking aperture adjacent the annular head of the terminal lug blank is merged with the head aperture, as shown at H, the resulting aperture being generally of keyhole shape and including a rectangular rear portion t2 anda circular front The transverse edge i l of saidrectangular rear aperture portion cooperates with the hooked locking tab I5 .t-o'lock the terminal ilug in wire clamping position in the same manner as described in connection with theembodi- .ment ofjFigures '1 to .4.

' The locations of the wire clamping tongue and aperture elements .of the terminallugs may be'transposed with respect to the wire receiving apertureZfl orZB. 'For example, asshown in the blank of'Figure .13, the tongue 18 is located on the same side of the bend line 25 as the lockng. tab 3.5, whereas intheblank of Figurea, the tongue i8 is located on the same side of bend '25 as the locking slotf22. The transposition of these wireiclampingjelements does .not.change the net result obtained, and such transpositions are contemplated within the spirit of .the present invention.

"A still'further embodiment of the present in- .ventionis disclosedin Figures 14 and 15 wherein the'terminal lug may be formed byusins a blank similarto any of the .blanks employed in the previously described forms of the invention,for

example, similar to the blank employed in the embodiment of'Figures 8, 9 and 10,.having the hookedlockingtongue 4'! cooperating with the end notch 35 to lock the terminal lug in wire clamping position. Instead ofemployinga single wire gripping tongue as in the previousembodiments of the invention, two depending wire gripbent around the fold line 25 to the position shown-in Figure 14. In securing a wire'end to theterminal lug of Figures 14 and 15, the wire end-is inserted through the opening 20 and is crimped by the depending tongues 5t and 55'into vthe-respective openings 53 and 59 andislocked to the lug bythe interengagement of .hOOkEd 'tongue t'l with end 'notch'35 in amanner generally similar to that described in connection with the previously described structural-embodi- -mentsrof the invention. The .multiple-tongued wire crimping .action employed .in the embodi- -.ment. of Figur.es..14=-and.l5provides a very tight and very strongconnection of the wircend to the terminallug .due'to the'fact that a'linear portion of the wire end is tightly stretched over the intermediate portion 50 of the lug body between the apertures 58 and 59 therein and is clamped to said intermediate portion 60 by the depending tongues 54 and 55.

Prior to forming the slit 53 in the blank of Figure 15, the blank may be formed with an aperture 6| midway between the fold lines 55 and 51 and midway between the slits 5| and 52. This provides semi-circular notches S2 in the bottom edges of the completed depending tongues 5 and 55 which aid in centering and gripping the wire end in the terminal lug when it is locked thereto.

While certain specific embodiments of solderless terminal lugs have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art.

Therefore it is intended that no limitations be i placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm portions being formed with a tongue directed toward said opening, and means projecting from one of said arm portions adapted to interlock with said other arm portion.

2. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm portions being formed with a tongue directed toward said opening, and

means projecting from one of said arm portions adapted to interlock with the other arm portion, the body member being formed with an opening substantially at the bend thereof.

3. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define two arm portions, said body member being apertured substantially at the bend thereof, the arm portions being formed with cooperating wire gripping means, and means projecting from one of said arm portions adapted to interlock with the other arm portion.

4. In a wire connector, a body member made of flat material and bent to define two arm portions, said body member being apertured sub-- stantially at the bend thereof, the arm portions being formed with cooperating tongue and socket wire gripping means and with interengaging means for locking the body member in bent position.

5. In a wire connector, a body member having a configuration defining two arm portions, said body member being apertured substantially at the junction of said two arm portions, one arm portion being formed with an opening and the other arm portion carrying a projection directed toward said opening, and means on the body member adapted to interlock with an arm portion to retain the body member in said configuration.

6. In a wire connector, a body member having a configuration defining two arm portions, said body member being apertured substantially at the junction of said two arm portions, one arm portion being formed with an opening and the other arm portion carrying a projection directed toward said opening, and a projection on the body member adapted to interlock with the edge of an arm portion to retain the body member in said configuration.

7. In a wire connector, a body member having a configuration defining two arm portions, said body member being apertured substantially at the junction of said arm portions, one arm portion being formed with a plurality of openings and the other arm portion carrying a plurality of projections directed toward the respective openings, and interengaging means carried by the arm portions for locking the body member in said configuration.

8. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define two arm portions, said body member being apertured substantially at the bend thereof, one arm portion being formed with a pair of openings and the other arm portion carrying a pair of projections directed toward the respective openings, and interengaging means carried by the arm portions for locking the body member in bent position.

9. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm portions carrying a projection extending toward said opening, and a hooked projection carried 'by the body member adapted to interlock with an arm portion thereof to retain the body member in bent position.

10. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm portions carrying a projection extending toward said opening. and a hooked projection carried by the body member adapted to interlock with an edge of an arm portion thereof to retain the body member in bent position.

11. The structure of claim 10,and wherein the body member is apertured substantially at the bend thereof.

12. A blank comprising a fiat elongated strip of sheet metal formed at its intermediate portion with a first aperture and with a second aperture spaced longitudinally on one side of said first aperture, said strip being slit on the other side of said first aperture to define a tongue bendable on a transverse line spaced substantially the same distance longitudinally from said first aperture as said second aperture.

13. A blank comprising a flat elongated strip of sheet metal formed at its intermediate portion with a first aperture and with a second aperture spaced longitudinally on one side of said first aperture, said strip being slit on the other side of said first aperture to define a tongue bendable on a transverse line spaced substantially the same distance longitudinally from said first aperture as said second aperture, and being further slit to define a second tongue bendable on a transverse line spaced substantially the same distance longitudinally from said first aperture as the end edge of the strip on the opposite side of said first aperture.

14. A blank comprising a flat enlongated strip of sheet metal formed at its intermediate portion with a first aperture and with a second aperture spaced longitudinally on one side of said first aperture, said strip being slit on the other side of said first aperture to define a tongue bendable on a transverse line spaced substantially the same distance longitudinally from said first aperture as said second aperture, and being further formed to define a second tongue bendable on a transverse line spaced longitudinally from said first aperture a further distance than either said second aperture or said first-mentioned transverse line.

:15. :blanlr :comprising :ajlat 'zelongated tstrip a-of sheet :metal iormed at itsintermediate ,por-

tion with .aa first aperture, sand :with :a :pair :of -.slongitudinally spaced additional tap'ertures on rone '1' side of said. first aperture, :said sstrip :being :iformed onzthe othertside oisaid first aperture to idfine'atpair of longitudinally "spaced tongues "bendable on transverse lines respectively spaced longitudinally from said first aperturesubstantial'ly;the;same distances as said pair" of respecitiveizadditionalapertures.

.16. Theistructureof rclaimll5,'an'd wherein the strip isafurther iormecl-to define a third tongue bendable on a 4 transverse rline imoreremote from ISBLidLfiI'Si', aperture :than either said previously imentioned transverse lines or said additional apertures.

17. In a wire connector, a body:member=bent to :define two arm portions :connected together :tatithe rrear of the body member, cooperating wireagrippingimeans 'onisaid armiportions, and :meansi'projecting from 'one 70f saidiarmportions adapted to interlock with the -other "arm ,por- :tion eat a :pointspaced :forwardly 'of the wire grippingzmeans.

;1-8.':ln*a wirerconnectorpa :body member comprising "two movably connected "arm portions, :oneiarmrportion being "formed with an opening "and Tfl'l'BiOthBI'. arm portion 3 carrying a projection "directedftowardisaid'zopening, and "means on the body membert adapted'to.iinterlock with one arm :portion 'totrestrain both :arm portions against separation.

:19. v,The:structure of claim 18, and whereinthe body member is formed with an aperture 'openzingzinto ':the :space ."between said arm portions.

420... In a Wire connector," abody :member comprising two movably connected armiportions;one arm portion being formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings and the other arm :portion carrying ;a"plura1ity of projections T'directed 1 respectively ttoward :"said openings, and "interlockingmeans carried by the'arm portions :'to restrain said arm portions :against separation.

:;2'1.JIn aswire connector, 'a'body member bent ito tdefine upper-and 'lowerarm portions, one of said arm portions being formed' with an "openring' and the other of said arm portions being formed 'withiatongue directed toward 'said' open- -ing, .the .:plane oftthe tongue'zbeing parallel to the bending axis of .said body member, :and means projecting from one of said arm portions adapted to interlock withpsaid other .arm portion.

22. In a wire connector, a body :member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm portions being-formed with a tongue directed towardsaid opening, the plane of the tongue being'parallel to .the bending axis of said body member, andhmeans projecting from one of said arm portions adapted to interlock with the other arm :por-

tion, the body member being formed with an opening substantially at the bend :thereof.

23.111 a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm'portions, one ;of said armportions being formed-with anzopening and the other of saidarm portions carrying a fiat projection lying in a plane parallel'to the bending axis of said body member and extending toward said opening, anda hooked 'projection carried by the body member adapted to :interlock with an arm portion thereof to retain the body member in bent position.

24. In a wire connector, a body member bent to define upper and lower arm portions, one of said arm portions being formed with an opening and the other of said arm-portions being provided with a flat projection lying ina plane parallel to the bending axis of said body memher and extending toward said-openingand a hooked projection carried by the 'body member adapted to interlock with an edge of an :arm portion thereof to retain the body member'in bent position.

25. The structure of claim :24, and 'wherein the body member vis aperturedsubstantially-at the bend thereof.

HERMAN L; GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,183,109 Sipe Dec. 12, 1939 2,438,779 Gordon .Mar. 30, .1948 

